…the fanfare is dying down, order has been restored in the crowd and we look on as this year’s up and coming entrepreneurs take to the podium…
So you have set up your own business, congratulations! You are over the first hurdle and on track to following in the footsteps of some of the most famous business gurus on the planet. Whether you are a Branson, Sugar or Mone, you have to know where to start, and more importantly, how to start…
It doesn’t matter if you are a going it alone or have a faithful squad behind you to help spread the word, it is all about Team (insert your business name here) so you need to get your branding correct and consistent first of all. By reinforcing your business brand you are increasing your recognisability whilst conveying a very important message – professionalism!
Now we come to the launch, or in effect, your business’ opening ceremony. You want to create a lasting impression, make a noise, even enter with a bang, but above all; you need people to want to know about what you can do for them. Cue the media with their far reaching influence. A press release is a highly credible way to gain lots of exposure very quickly, but getting it right is a little more tricky. Don’t worry, where there is a will there is a way, and that way is the Début way…we are more than happy to do it for you. If you are having an actual opening event, it may also be worthwhile asking local papers to come along to maximise your exposure and give you the chance to build future relationships.
Remember, you’re going for gold so need to get your information out there by making a name for yourself. Targeted marketing will certainly help you to achieve this and in order to hit the bullseye, you need to get to know your audience. To do this, you need to ascertain and understand your objectives. Début Marketing has done a wealth of blogs on these topics so take a look at these links which will fill in the blanks:
http://debutmarketing.co.uk/2012/05/how-to-write-a-marketing-plan/
http://debutmarketing.co.uk/2012/06/are-you-talking-to-me/
Okay, so let’s say that everything has gone to plan and you have a few jobs/projects/clients on your portfolio. A really nice way of showing them you appreciate and value their business is to publish their testimonials. Not only does this cement relationships but it creates awareness for both parties.
So success is in sight and you are on the home stretch but so as not to finish just short of the line you need to continue with the follow up marketing to keep momentum going. We strongly recommend devising a plan, including a review after a suitable length of time, to stay moving forward in the right direction.
Right now this may seem an information overload but we are here to help. Check out this last link for a summary and details of your next step, and Good Luck!
http://debutmarketing.co.uk/services/promoting-your-business/start-up-package/